MOVIE REVIEWS
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Josh Brown
When I first heard that there was going to be a remake of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” made, I wasn’t sure what to think. When I found out that Johnny Depp was going to be portraying the slightly insane Willy Wanka, and that the slightly insane Tim Burton was going to be directing it, I couldn’t help but be interested.
The first thing I wondered was whether or not Tim Burton was going to be true to the book version of the story, or if it was just a remake of the original movie. I thought for sure Mr. Burton would have to go with the book version, as it that story was darker, creepier, more twisted and more bizarre – and slightly more insane, as well. I hoped that would be the case at least. I mean, the original movie was great. It was funny, weird and different. But it was too childish, too immature, and too happy. I wanted to see what the story was intended to be like. I wanted it to be slightly insane.
And what better person to tell that story than Tim Burton, who is known for the weirdly creepy “The Nightmare before Christmas.”
I guess I had very high expectations for this movie. Unfortunately, the previews that flooded television weeks before its release made me wonder if it was going to be happy and upbeat like the first one. I started to have doubts, but had to know for sure.
Needless to say, my qualms were quieted, and I walked out of the movie theatre very impressed. Not only did they follow the book very accurately, but also Tim Burton’s vision of the story worked seamlessly with Johnny Depp’s amazing performance. The movie was everything I hoped it would be, and much more. It was funny, witty and modern, as well as creepy, bizarre, weird and just plain twisted.
My favorite line from the movie that perfectly explains just how twisted this movie is compared to the original, is when Willy Wanka brings the children and their parents into the room where everything is edible (you know, where Augustus falls into the chocolate river). Willy Wanka says, “Everything in this room is edible, even me. But you can’t eat me, because that would be cannibalism, and it most societies, that is wrong, children.” I couldn’t stop laughing. I suppose I have a twisted sense of humor. Which is almost what you need for this movie.
In this version of the story, they explain how Willy Wanka atually found the Oompa Loompas, and how he got them to work in his factory. They also explain his childhood, which in turn explains how he came to be the way he is. I thought they were much needed additions to the story to make it all come together better.
Speaking of the Oompa Loompas, they are quite different in this movie. They aren’t orange-colored, green haired midgets. Instead, the Oompa Loompas are all played by one old Mexican guy, whose face is put onto each Oompa Loompa in the movie. Despite them all looking the same, each one has a different voice. Also, they don’t sing those annoying yet catchy Oompa Loompa songs as they did in the original, but rather modernized and funky songs. Quite entertaining, I must say.
Another change to the factory was the nut room, where a bunch of squirrels are working non-stop and shelling nuts. This room took the place of the Golden Goose room in the first movie; same basic premise, much more believable, and a lot more odd.
The one thing that this movie lacked from the first one that I genuinely missed was the room with the edible wallpaper. “The snozberries taste like snozberries!” God I love that line. Unfortunately, this movie didn’t have that scene or anything to replace it. Oh well; the rest of the movie more than made up for it.
Overall, the movie was great. But again, I have a slightly twisted sense of humor. I’m sure the kids loved the movie, but for different reasons than I. I enjoyed it because it stayed true to the book, and was much better done than the original movie. Unfortunately, very few people have actually read the book, so this movie might be a let down to them.
But you can thank the current state of required education for the lack of readers nowadays.
